Photo Blog Covering the City of Brussels, Belgium

After thousands of pictures taken in and around the city I finally decided to open my website dedicated to anyone from tourists that wish to know more about the major attractions of the city to the long time resident that wants to rediscover Brussels and some of its lesser known treasures. More →

Belgium cars

Autoworld’s collection of Belgian cars by Alphabetic order:

Belga Rise 1934 – 6 cyl. – 2413 cc.
The Belgian subsidiary of the French firm Sizaire-Naudin bought the company and its stock when it went bankrupt. Production came to an end in 1937. It used the radiator and badge of Sizaire-Naudin, which itself had copied Rolls-Royce (RR became SN, which then became BR), hence its nickname of the Belgian Rolls-Royce.

FN 1908 – 2000 A – 4 cyl. – 1995 cc
The second model produced by FN under license from Rochet Schneider in France
The coachbuilder has achieved a saloon with a stunning body and panoramic windscreen, using minimal space.

FN 1919 – 2700 AT – 4 cyl. – 2852 cc
This was the top-of-the-range FN. It had all the latest features from America:
an electric starter and electric lights, and its painted radiator followed the American trend.

FN 1930 (FN 1400) – 4 cyl. – 1452 cc
The Shah of Persia ordered a car in 1912 but because of the war, it could not be delivered. The body was, later transferred to a 1930 chassis and finished using wood

FN 1930 – Type 1400 – 4 cyl. -1452 cc
Two-seat sports car which participated in one of the editions of the 24 Hours of Francorchamps at the beginning of the thirties.

FN 1934 Type 42 Prince Baudouin – 4 cyl. – 2000 cc.
This was the first FN to have a body made entirety from steel (like the Citroen Rosalie). It could not compete with American imports.

Hermes 1912 Type 00U0 – 12 HP – 4 cyl. – 1846 cc
This car was manufactured at Bressoux between 1912 and 1914. It was built under licence from Mathis of Strasbourg, which itself was designed by Ettore Bugatti.
Thus the radiator has the Bugatti horseshoe shape.

Minerva WT 1910 – (Minerva WT) – 16 HP – 4 cyl. – 2323 cc
Official outings by the royal family in horse-draw^ vehicles were coming to an end.
King Albert I, who loved motor sport, introduced Me first car into the Belgian royal house in the form of this gala coupé with bodywork by Charles Distang of Huy.

Minerva 1911 – (Minerva X) – 26 HP – 4 cyl. – 4084 cc
The famous Belgian make from Antwerp. For this chassis, the French customer chose an open tourer, with bodywork by Dumas of Montpellier.

Minerva 1914 – 18 HP Type KK
Summer + winter bodies – Mahy Collection

Minerva 1921 Type 00 – 30 HP – 6 cyl. – 5941 cc
This car, with bodywork by Vanden Plas, was the personal car of the Belgian royal family King Albert I, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth and the royal children, regularly traveled between Brussels and the royal seaside residence at De Panne.

Minerva 1925 AD – 16 HP – 4 cyl. – 2250 cc
This little Minerva had an ‘All Weather’ factory-built body, enabling it to convert from an open tourer to a saloon. It had an aerodynamic curved windscreen.

Minerva 1930 – (Minerva AL) – 40 HP – 8 cyl. – 6625 cc
The 40 HP is the most luxurious Minerva, on a par with the most prestigious cars in the world. It was very popular in the United States and has American aluminium bodywork produced by Le Baron for Ostruck, who imported Minervas into the United States. Sleeve-valve engine.

Minerva1933 6 cyl. — Schaerbeek Fire Brigade
In a move away from cars, Minerva bought up an Antwerp lorry manufacturer. Minerva offered a complete range of lorries, buses, coaches and fire engines, including this one, which was in service until the early 1960s in Schaerbeek (Brussels).

Impéria 1948 (Impéria TA-8) – 4 cyl. –1340 cc.
In its final throes after the Second World War. Impéria re-used a design typical of the late 30s with a French Hotchkiss engine. Production ended in 1949 and with it, the last Belgian car manufacturer closed its doors.